Four goal win and a four point lead

Leaders Valletta regained a four-point lead on top the BOV Premier League table following a fine 4-1 win over Birkirkara. The Stripes therefore stay in fourth place on level points with Sliema Wanderers. Lying just three points ahead of seventh-placed Qormi, they are yet to secure a place in the Championship Pool.

Birkirkara had Nikola Vukanac making his debut but Rowen Muscat and Alan Tabone were ruled out injured. Valletta, on the other hand, were in full strength. Valletta took the lead after just four minutes when Denni Rocha dos Santos pounced on a Michael Mifsud through pass and managed to beat Reuben Gauci with a diagonal shot. The Citizens doubled the score on 16 minutes when off a Roderick Briffa cross from the right, Ousseni Zongo slammed the ball past the Birkirkara goalkeeper

The Stripes’ reaction consisted of a powerful drive by Ousseni Zongo which hit the crossbar on 17 minutes. A minute later, a Shaun Bajada had a good shot ending just over the bar. Eight minutes from the end of the first half, a Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza shot from the left was deflected into a corner by Hogg.

Nikola Vukanac missed a good opportunity for the Stripes when served by Zerafa inside the area early in the second half. On 58 minutes, Valletta were unlucky not to increase the lead when shots by Denni and Zongo were blocked with Rodrigo Pereira clearing off the goal line. Off the rebound, Zongo’s effort was tipped into a corner by Gauci. Another shot by Zongo hit the upright on 62 minutes.

Valletta increased the lead on 68 minutes thanks to a perfect lob by Jonathan Caruana when served by Denni. Two minutes later, Gauci came to the rescue blocking into a corner a close-range effort by Michael Mifsud. A Shaun Bajada freekick ended just wide on 73 minutes. Jorge Santos Silva tried his luck with a powerful shot from the right on 84 minutes but his attempt was saved partially by the Valletta goalkeeper.

One minute from time, Birkirkara scored a consolation goal when off a cross by Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Scicluna’s first attempt was blocked and off the rebound, Moises Avila Perez placed the ball at the back of the net. Two minutes in added time, Valletta added another through substitute Alfred Effiong who headed the ball home off a Gilbert Agius freekick from the left.

Ousseni Zongo was voted BOV Player of the Match.

B’KARA Reuben Gauci, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Shaun Bajada (79′ Ryan Camenzuli), Rodrigo Pereira (65′ Moises Avila Perez), Paul Fenech, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (71′ Ryan Scicluna), Shola Shodiya Haruna, Angus Buhagiar, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Karl Magri, McAllister Clinch, Fabian Zammit, Michael Camilleri.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Assistant Coach: Peter Pullicino

VALLETTA Andrew Hogg, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Saidou Mady Pananadetiguiri, Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Bajada (60′ William Barbosa), Roderick Briffa, Edmond Agius, Ousseni Zongo (85′ Alfred Effiong), Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud (89′ Gilbert Agius).
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Nahuel Jimenez Pulitano, Fillippo Andrea Scozzese, Siraj Arab.
Coach: Leonard Farrugia
Assistant Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Bajada, Vukanac, Shodiya
Attendance: 2,610

Article by Maltafootball.com | Photos by Stiefnu De Battista